Dryer plug isn't the same type as the receptacle

General Questions
#1

I just moved into a new place, and by a chance of luck, a friend of mine, who also moved into a new place, can’t keep his washer and dryer because he doen’t have the hookups for them, so he’s letting us borrow them. We got the washer hooked up mostly fine (the cold water hose keeps dripping, I think it might need a new…umm…little rubber thing that goes in the female end? I don’t think it’s technically an O-ring, maybe just a rubber washer? The dryer is another story.

Both the hookup and the dryer are electric, not gas, but the plug is different. The dryer’s plug is three pronged, but larger and set at weird angles (like this, cause it’s a 220 V plug I assume. The outlet, OTOH, looks like this.

Is there a way to make these get along (an adapter of some sort?) Or are they rated at different voltages/amps and we’re just screwed?

#2

Nope, not screwed. The plug is a 120/240 30a (2 hot, 1 neutral, 1 ground). The outlet that you have is a 240v (2 hot, 1 neutral). You can either pick up a 4 prong plug (check the back of the dryer, there may be a lug to connect the ground wire to), or pick up a 3 wire outlet. Eitherway you go, it’s a simple job for someone that knows what their doing.

As for the washer, yea, it’s a washer (as opposed to an o ring that is). Pick one up at a hardware store, it’ll be cheap.

#3

To reiterate: Not screwed at all. You can get a new plug complete with wiring instructions at your local hardware store. They run about $10-$15.

#4

I believe you have that backwards. The linked pictures show a 4 wire outlet (2 hots, a neutral and a ground) and a cord (plug) that has three lugs (2 hots + neutral)

#5

I just had to do this the other day. I sold my washer and dryer to my aunt, and her wall outlet would not fit the plug on my dryer. I removed the plug from my dryer and replaced it with the plug from the old dryer. I’m not an electrician, and I had no idea that it would even work. The new plug had four wires, the old one had three. But anyway, with no knowledge about dryer plugs at all, I was able to make it work on the first try.
So, it should not be difficult at all for you. You just need to go get a plug that fits your wall outlet and replace the plug on your dryer.
It shouldn’t take more than 4-5 minutes to switch out.

#6

Sounds good, off to the hardware store, then. I know enough about wiring to install it, just not enough about wiring to identify what type of outlet is what. :stuck_out_tongue:

#7

Take a picture of the outlet and bring your camera with you to the hardware store.
Or put a piece of paper over the outlet and trace where the holes are.
That way you can match the plugs at the hardware store with your outlet.

#8

Starting dryers on fire is no fun. That can happen if you wire the outlet or the cord wrong.

You should change the cord coming from the dryer to a four wire cord to match the outlet. Four wire is the new code now. All dryer outlets must have the two hots, a neutral and a ground connection. So changing the outlet would technically be changing the wrong part, you need to change out the cord.

#9

Also, I think the plug is a NEMA 14-30R, so you need the matching cord with a 14-30P end on it.

#10

Well that takes the guess work and drawing out of it.

#11

I think you will be better (and safer) by replacing the plug and wires going to the dryer, rather than just putting a new plug on the existing 3-wire cord.

With the 4-wire plug, 3 of the wires will go to the same place on the dryer where the existing wires connect, with the 4th one connected to the frame of the dryer as a ground.

#12

The kit usually comes with the cord and plug, and really helpful wiring instructions. Even I could do it.

#13

Of course. The cord comes with the end on it. Factory installed and molded to the cord.

#14

OK, so new cord it is. And to top things off, it’s not just a little rubber washer I need for the washing machine, the spigots themselves are leaking. The landlord knows and in theory someone will come by tomorrow or Friday, but I really need to do laundry today and I was all pysched that I didn’t have to use a freakin’ laundromat.

#15

It is correct to note that current NEC calls for four wire connections of clothes dryers and ranges, too. However, if the OP grabs a four wire receptacle and goes to replace the existing, there’s a strong possibility that only three wire cable feeds the existing.

If that is the case, and he jumps the ground and neutral in the receptacle, it is an improper installation, and the safety factor is not improved. If he leaves the ground lead unconnected in the receptacle, it is also improper, and is electrically worse from a safety standpoint.

In that instance, a fourth wire needs to be added, either by replacing the existing cable assembly with 10/3 with ground (assuming type NM), or pulling a grounding conductor into the conduit, if the branch is run in EMT.

Yeah, it may be a PITA, but those are your code compliant options.

#16

Just to reiterate, you buy the whole cord. You can get them anywhere that appliances are sold. Last time I bought a dryer, it didn’t even come with a cord. I paid for that seperately. Connecting it is very easy – just follow the diagram in the package.

Just as a little safety thought – not that you’ll need it. Make sure that someone is there with you when you connect the dryer. If you contact electricity, you might not be able to move away from thedryer. Instruct your helper not to touch you if this happens, but instead to throw his/her weight against you so that both of you will fall to the floor away from the dryer. Otherwise, your helper may touch you and get stuck, too.

#17

And even though you only need one you probably won’t be able to buy one. You will get a bunch of them in a little plastic bag or strung on a safety pin type gadget. :slight_smile: